§ 27. Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to tackle health inequalities; and if he will make a statement. [3790]
§ Ms BlearsIn the NHS Plan we made a commitment to set national targets for reducing unacceptable inequalities in health which consistently widened under the last Government. In February of this year two new national targets for reducing health inequalities in infant mortality and life expectancy were announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and at present we are consulting widely on the actions necessary to deliver them. Copies of the consultation document, "Tackling Health Inequalities", are available in the Library.